LMR Licensing Specialists

What we do

Services

RF Grid specializes in turnkey spectrum identification and FCC licensing services for Land Mobile Radio systems, from the first presales conversation through license grant and buildout.

1. Frequency Identification & Spectrum Mining

   RF Grid uses proprietary software to identify licensable spectrum for your proposed network design. With so many frequencies in each band, manual evaluation is time-consuming and impractical. Our software evaluates every frequency against FCC regulations and certified frequency coordinator requirements (APCO, EWA, etc.), giving high confidence that identified spectrum will pass coordination, Regional Planning Committee (RPC) and FCC approval.

   Band	Range	Service	Pool
   VHF	150–170 MHz	Public Safety	500 frequencies
   		Business	650 frequencies
   		Paging	18 channels
   		Maritime Services	17 channels
   UHF	450–470 MHz	Public Safety	150 channels
   		Business	450 channels
   		Paging	26 channels
   UHF T-Band	470–512 MHz	Public Safety / Business	1,680 channels
   700 MHz	769–775 / 799–805 MHz	Public Safety	480 channels
   800 MHz NPSPAC	851–854 / 806–809 MHz	Public Safety	225 channels
   800 MHz Non-NPSPAC	854–861 / 809–816 MHz	Public Safety / Business	320 channels

   When initial spectrum searches come up empty, RF Grid draws on its experience and software analysis to recommend alternatives, including design modifications, Letters of Concurrence (LOC) strategies and waiver requests.

2. Regional Considerations & Compliance

   Spectrum licensing requirements vary significantly by frequency band and geographic location. RF Grid maintains expertise across all regulatory regions.

   700/800 MHz NPSPAC Regional Planning Committees

   These bands are overseen by 55 Regional Planning Committees across the United States. Applications must receive RPC approval before the FCC grants a license. RF Grid has extensive experience with most RPCs and performs thorough due diligence for new regions.

   Canadian & Mexican border regions

   Border regions require additional considerations, including U.S. Primary vs. Secondary channel designations, Power Flux Density (PFD) studies and Effective Antenna Height (EAH) calculations. Our software fully supports border region spectrum analysis.

   National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ)

   The NRQZ covers significant portions of West Virginia and Virginia. All applications require National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) approval before FCC submission. RF Grid performs preliminary PFD studies to ensure a high probability of approval.

   Southeast Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) area

   This area affects 800 MHz Non-NPSPAC operations in the Southeastern United States, with fewer available frequencies and modified eligibility requirements. Our software accounts for these regional variations.

3. Engineering Considerations

   RF Distribution System (RFDS) analysis

   UHF and VHF bands often require custom RFDS designs based on the licensed frequency plan. RF Grid applies best practices to deliver cost-effective, high-performance systems, considering:

   • Transmitter combiner spacing and insertion loss optimization
   • RF filter design and specifications
   • Transmit/receive isolation requirements
   • Intermodulation mitigation strategies
   • Antenna selection and placement
   • Physical size and installation constraints

   With experience across multiple commercial RFDS vendors, we make sure frequency plans are optimized for practical implementation.

   Spectrum Fingerprinting & Noise Floor Monitoring (SF/NFM)

   While applicable to any band, SF/NFM testing is particularly critical in VHF environments, where unstructured channel use and variable noise floors can affect system performance. This analysis identifies potential interference sources before deployment and provides measured noise floor data for accurate inbound coverage modeling. RF Grid coordinates closely with testing vendors to ensure optimal data collection and analysis.

4. FCC Application Management

   Once spectrum is identified and validated, RF Grid manages the complete application lifecycle. Each application captures the full technical parameters of the proposed network, along with supporting technical documentation to streamline approval.

   Applications are routed through the appropriate channels (Regional Planning Committees, NRAO or certified FCC coordinators such as APCO and EWA) based on frequency band and geographic location. RF Grid handles all coordination fees on behalf of the licensee and tracks every application through FCC approval.

   After FCC approval, licensees must begin operations within one year of license grant (up to five years for Public Safety agencies), and a buildout notification must be filed as each frequency becomes operational. Missing these deadlines can result in license termination. RF Grid proactively tracks every license under our engagement and files buildout notifications on time, protecting your client's spectrum assets throughout multi-year implementation projects.